Top-10 of the Decade (2000-09)

The first decade of the 21st Century was a great one for the Boise Hawks Club - two Northwest League championships, four East Division titles, a bevy of future Major League talent that played on the Memorial Stadium grounds. However, after polling Hawks staff, members of the media, and the fans, it is time to reveal the second Top-10 of the Decade...the Top-10 Boise Hawks Pitchers from 2000-09

10. Rocky Cherry (2003)

The big Texan, who actually pitched collegiately at the University of Oklahoma, was the Hawks Opening Night starter in 2003, picking up a victory over the Tri-City Dust Devils. Cherry would make ten starts for the Hawks before a call up to Lansing, going 5-2 and was among the Northwest League‟s leaders in ERA at the midway point of the season. He would make his Major League debut with the Cubs in 2007 and spend 2008 with the . Last year, Cherry split time between Pawtucket (Red Sox) and Portland (Padres), a pair of AAA affiliates. He is currently a free agent.

„03 HAWKS 5-2 2.17 ERA 10 APP 54 IP 18 BB 55 K MINORS CAREER 22-16 3.71 ERA 200 APP 431 IP 162 BB 385 K MLB CAREER 1-4 5.77 ERA 40 APP 48 IP 35 BB 38 K

9. Jeremy Papelbon (2006)

The younger brother of All Star closer, Jonathan Papelbon, the 19th Round pick out of North Florida had a banner 2006 season for the Hawks Got off to a banner start as a professional, picking up two wins and two saves in his first six appearances, without allowing a run during the 18 inning stretch. He was named to the Northwest League Postseason All-Star Team as the Left-handed Reliever, helping the Hawks to an East Division pennant. Last year, he spent most of the season at AA Tennessee, while making a pair off appearances at AAA Iowa.

„06 HAWKS 4-0 1.83 ERA 18 APP 44 IP 15 BB 50 K MINORS CAREER 21-13 2.99 ERA 128 APP 333 IP 98 BB 279 K MLB CAREER *** Has not made his MLB Debut ***

8. Darin Downs (2004-06)

A three year member of the Hawks, Downs made his debut with Boise during the 2004 season as a 19-year-old and helped the squad to the Northwest League title, winning Game 1 of the League Championship Series over Vancouver. The following season, Downs went 5-4 with a 3.50 ERA, earning NWL All-Star honors. In 2006, Downs split the season between Boise and Peoria. He was picked up last year by the Tampa Bay Rays and had his best season as a professional, going 12-4 at Advanced-A, however, in his second start at AA Montgomery, was struck in the head with a line drive and continues to recover from the injury. It is uncertain whether Downs will pitch this season.

„04-06 HAWKS 14-9 4.34 ERA 37 APP 145 IP 59 BB 148 K MINORS CAREER 32-32 4.22 ERA 159 APP 460 IP 168 BB 436 K MLB CAREER *** Has not made his MLB Debut *** 7. Sergio Mitre (2001)

One of three pitchers on this list from that talent=laden 2001 Hawks staff that sent five arms to the big leagues, Mitre had an outstanding season, logging eight wins and recording just 18 walks in 91 innings, helping Boise to the East Division pennant. Just two years later, he would make his Major League debut with the Cubs, and over seven seasons (including missing the 2008 due to injury), has spent time with the Cubs, Florida Marlins, and now, the .

„01 HAWKS 8-4 3.07 ERA 15 APP 91 IP 18 BB 71 K MINORS CAREER 40-34 3.09 ERA 110 APP 643 IP 155 BB 492 K MLB CAREER 13-26 5.56 ERA 90 APP 362 IP 121 BB 220 K

6. Jerry Blevins (2004, 2006)

Had one of the more amazing second half of a season for the Hawks in 2004, not allowing a run over his final 15 appearances, spanning 22 innings - while opponents‟ hit just .145 against the lefty. Blevins picked up a in all three Northwest League Championship Series games, striking out the final batter in the clincher vs. Vancouver. Spent a portion of 2006 with Boise to try a new delivery, but after being traded in 2007, has spent part of the last three seasons up with the Oakland Athletics.

„04-‟06 HAWKS 7-4 3.26 ERA 39 APP 53 IP 29 BB 61 K MINORS CAREER 22-21 3.66 ERA 229 APP 322 IP 114 BB 374 K MLB CAREER 1-4 4.18 ERA 62 APP 64 IP 21 BB 61 K

5. Jeff Samardzija (2006)

“The Shark” landed in Boise after being drafted by the Cubs in the 5th Round— that after a stellar junior season in football at Notre Dame. Outside of all of the media blitz, Samardzija was solid for the Hawks, going 1-1 with a 2.37 ERA in five appearances, before being called up to Peoria. He advanced quickly through the farm system, making an impressive debut with the Cubs in 2008, posting a 2.28 ERA in 26 appearances. After bouncing between the big club and AAA Iowa last year, he is one of the No. 5 starter candidates in 2010.

‟06 HAWKS 1-4 2.37 ERA 5 APP 19 IP 6 BB 13 K MINORS CAREER 20-25 4.28 ERA 77 APP 374 IP 141 BB 237 K MLB CAREER 2-3 5.20 ERA 46 APP 62 IP 30 BB 46 K

4. Andy Sisco (2002)

Sisco was one of 12 players from the 2002 Northwest League champions to make it to the Major Leagues, and his season with the Boise Hawks helped propel him. The tall-lefty went 7-2 with 101 on the season, and picking up a win in Game 1 of the NWL Championship Series against Everett. Following the 2004 season, he was selected in the Major League portion of the Rule 5 draft and spent the entire 2005 season with the Kansas City Royals, making 67 appearances in relief, with a 3.11 ERA. Sisco spent 2006 with the Royals and 2007 with the White Sox, before injuries sidelined his career. He last pitched at AAA Charlotte in 2007.

‟02 HAWKS 7-2 2.48 ERA 14 APP 77 IP 39 BB 101 K MINORS CAREER 21-26 3.81 ERA 95 APP 415 IP 190 BB 447 K MLB CAREER 3-9 5.18 ERA 151 APP 147 IP 93 BB 141 K 3. Angel Guzman (2001)

It was quite possibly one of the more dominant starting rotations in the history of the Northwest League, and Guzman was definitely in the middle of it. The right-handed Venezuelan made his professional debut in Boise and quickly showed why he was one of the top prospects in the organization, going 9-1 on the season with a 2.23 ERA, earning Northwest League right-handed starter of the year, helping the squad to an East Division pennant. Guzman would quickly ascend the Cubs ladder, but injuries have plagued his career until 2009, when he had a breakthrough season with the Cubs, going 3-3 with a 2.95 ERA. Will begin 2010 as the Cubs right-handed set-up man.

„01 HAWKS 9-1 2.23 ERA 14 APP 76 IP 19 BB 63 K MINORS CAREER 31-20 3.00 ERA 102 APP 498 IP 135 BB 460 K MLB CAREER 3-10 4.82 ERA 88 APP 157 IP 73 BB 143 K

2. (2002)

Spent the entire 2002 season with the Hawks, part of a starting staff that led the NWL in ERA (3.10). Logged 92 strikeouts in 90 innings of work, going 7-2 on the season, helping Boise a three-game sweep of Everett in the NWL League Championship Series. After three quality seasons in the Cubs system, was traded to the Florida Marlins. Made his MLB debut with the Marlins in 2006, going 11-11, but had his best season in 2008, going 15-8 with a 3.52 ERA. Will begin the 2010 season as the No. 2 starter in the Marlins rotation.

„02 HAWKS 7-2 2.48 ERA 15 APP 90 IP 25 BB 92 K MINORS CAREER 43-22 3.61 ERA 115 APP 615 IP 186 BB 613 K MLB CAREER 40-30 4.43 ERA 105 APP 558 IP 136 BB 491 K

1. Dontrelle Willis (2001)

No other player over the last decade has had the success that the D-Train has had— with his roots engrained in Boise. Willis was the No. 1 starter for the East Division champion Hawks team in 2001, going 8-2 in 15 starts, earning NWL All-Star honors as the left-handed starting . However, he did not make a name for himself until being traded to the Florida Marlins at the start of 2003 - getting an early season call-up and earned NL Rookie of the Year honors, helping Florida to a World Series title over the Yankees. A two-time NL All-Star, he was traded to the in 2008 and is in his final year of a three-year contract.

„01 HAWKS 8-2 2.98 ERA 15 APP 93 IP 19 BB 77 K MINORS CAREER 30-9 2.64 ERA 66 APP 372 IP 85 BB 297 K MLB CAREER 69-60 4.02 ERA 177 APP 1080 IP 407 BB 792 K

Other pitchers that just missed the Top-10 included major leaguers Sean Marshall, Jae-Kuk Ryu, and Rich Hill, along with Luke Hagerty, Matt Hines, J.R. Mathes, Andrew Cashner, Andy Mejia, and Bubba O’Donnell. Special thanks to Julie Takeuchi for the archived photos of Hawks players. Here’s to another outstanding decade of Boise Hawks Baseball in HawksTown U.S.A.